‘Truly exceptional’: Jorge Jesus hails Al-Hilal players as champions lift Roshn Saudi League trophy in glitzy ceremony
Club can secure an invincible league season if they avoid defeat at Al-Wehda on Monday
Al-Hilal beat Al-Tai 3-1 on Thursday through Salem Al-Dawsari, Michael and Malcom goals
Updated 12 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: After newly crowned Roshn Saudi League champions Al-Hilal lifted the league trophy in a stunning ceremony at Kingdom Arena on Friday night, manager Jorge Jesus says the season may be the best ever in the 66-year history of the club.
Unbeaten domestically this season, Al-Hilal — who created world history by winning 34 matches in succession between September and April across all competitions — clinched the title with three games to spare. The champions are 14 points ahead of second-placed Al-Nassr.
An invincible league season will be secured for the Saudi Super Cup winners if they avoid defeat in their final match at Al-Wehda on Monday. The King’s Cup final against Al-Nassr concludes Al-Hilal’s campaign.
Jesus said: “This season has been truly exceptional for the team — arguably our best ever. The credit goes to the immense talent within the squad and the incredible sense of unity that transcends both on and off-field interactions. We’re currently vying for three local trophies this season. We’ve already secured two and are determined to win the last one.”
Al-Hilal’s latest victory saw them beat Al-Tai 3-1 on Thursday thanks to first-half goals from Salem Al-Dawsari and Michael, and a goal on the hour mark from Malcom. Andrei Cordea netted a consolation strike for Al-Tai.
Tennis world number ones Sabalenka, Alcaraz begin Australian Open campaigns
Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton
Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park
Updated 8 sec ago
Reuters
MELBOURNE: The first round of the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday. World number one Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton, while Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park. Top men’s match: Alcaraz v Walton At 22, Alcaraz could replace Don Budge as the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam with victory at the Australian Open. The Spaniard has left no one in any doubt what his main goal is for the 2026 season, saying in November he would rather win a first Melbourne Park crown than retain his French and US Open titles. His quest to make history will begin with a first-round tie against Australian Walton. The pair have crossed paths once before, with Alcaraz beating the Australian 6-4 7-6(4) during his title-winning run at the Queen’s Club Championships last year. Top women’s match: Sabalenka v Rakotomanga Rajaonah Sabalenka will be bidding to continue her incredible record in hard court Grand Slam tournaments when she begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The Belarusian world number one has reached the final of the last six majors she has played on the surface, winning four of those. She enters the competition in fine form after retaining her Brisbane International title this month without losing a set, and should have little trouble when she takes on the 118th-ranked Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Venus Williams is back Venus Williams, a two-times Australian Open singles finalist, returns to the tournament for the first time since 2021 after receiving a wildcard. The 45-year-old faces Olga Danilovic in the first round, where she is set to become the oldest woman to feature in the Australian Open main draw by surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she bowed out in the first round in 2015. Williams has endured a poor start to the season, losing to Magda Linette in the first round in Auckland and to Tatjana Maria in her opening match at the Hobart International. Despite her defeats, she said she was happy with her level. “I can’t expect perfection right now, but I know I’m playing good tennis. Winning and losing doesn’t know any age. Once you walk on court, you’re there to compete,” Williams said before her defeat in Hobart. Australian Open order of play on Sunday Here is the order of play on the main showcourts on the first day of the Australian Open (prefix number denotes seeding): Rod Laver Arena Day session Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) v 7-Jasmine Paolini (Italy) 3-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v Gabriel Diallo (Canada) Night session 1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (France) 1-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) v Adam Walton (Australia) Margaret Court Arena Day session Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Leolia Jeanjean (France) 18-Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) v Zhang Zhizhen (China) Night session 10-Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) v Jenson Brooksby (US) Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thailand) v 28-Emma Raducanu (Britain) John Cain Arena Day session Arthur Fery (Britain) v 20-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) Day session 12-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Cristina Bucsa (Spain) Night session 29-Frances Tiafoe (US) v Jason Kubler (Australia) Olga Danilovic (Serbia) v Venus Williams (US)
